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Best ADHD Books for Parents and Kids

By Lori Newman

If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), where can you find the information you need? Lifescript asked experts to recommend ADHD books for parents and kids that will help you manage the condition. Here are their suggestions...

When your child was first diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), did you rush to the nearest bookstore or library in search of answers?

That’s what many anxious parents do to get as much information as they can about the developmental disorder, which causes impulsiveness, hyperactivity or distraction in children.

The best books for parents explain the challenges of ADHD in everyday language and offer solutions they can implement right away, he says.

Some ADHD books also include forms to organize chores, homework and other routines. These help kids track responsibilities, making them feel more successful and in control of their behavior.

Many ADHD books also are geared toward kids of different age levels. These help them feel better about themselves and realize that being “different” isn’t a bad thing, Dr. Rosenblatt says.

Reading to your child about other ADHD kids’ experiences can help them sort through feelings about their behaviors and teach them new ways to handle situations, adds Glen Elliott, M.D., Ph.D., chief psychiatrist and medical director for Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, Calif., and a clinical professor at Stanford University.

“It may not work for all children with ADHD, but it’s a strategy that’s worth trying,” he says.

Here’s a list of the top ADHD books for you and your child. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, “your pediatrician may be able to more directly address your particular questions and provide an ongoing personal relationship,” Dr. Rosenblatt says.

“It’s the most quoted book [by ADHD experts] because it has a lot of evidence to back up the suggestions,” says Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., former senior director of the ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute in New York City.

“It also puts everything in very user-friendly language, like ‘10 ways to do this’ or ‘8 ways to do that’ – and parents find that valuable,” he adds.

Easy-to-follow lists in Taking Charge of ADHD include:

Steps to better behavior

Steps to better social skills

Questions to ask your physician about ADHD medications

Steps for preparing for a child’s psychiatric evaluation

Recommendations for getting help from your child’s school

How to find time-out spots in public places

Ways for parents to head off stress-inducing events

ADHD Book #2: ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know (American Academy of Pediatrics), by Michael I. Reiff, M.D., developmental pediatrician at University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital“I recommend it as the first book to read when researching [ADHD],” says Linda Donnelly, a marriage and family therapist who treats children with the disorder at her ADHD Solutions Center in Murrieta, Calif.

“It gives a complete objective overview of the disorder and available treatments, [so you can] make educated choices for your child,” Donnelly says.

“Driven to Distraction is a well-written guide for anyone who has to live with or teach a child with ADHD,” he says. “The book is well laid out, and discusses the many types of treatment for ADHD, [including] medications and therapy.”

“It covers a lot of ground in looking at the nutritional, psychological and educational needs of children with ADHD,” he says.

Other Informative ADHD Books for ParentsADHD Book #5: Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary ‘Executive Skills’ Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential (Guilford Press), by Peg Dawson, Ed.D., and Richard Guare, Ph.D.The “scattered” people referred to in the title are bright 4- to 13-year-olds who find it difficult to deal with disappointment and control frustration. This book provides worksheets and easy-to-follow steps to help kids with ADHD increase problem-solving skills and create workable routines for daily life.

Our experts recommended the following. Many of them blur the line between nonfiction and fiction and have role models who can help kids feel less alone.

ADHD Book #7: The Adventures of Phoebe Flower: Stories of a Girl With ADHD (Advantage Books), by Barbara RobertsIn this collection of four tales, Phoebe is a warm and funny third-grader whose problems with impulsivity and distractibility get her in trouble at school. Through a series of adventures, she learns to manage her challenges with ADHD.

ADHD Book #8: Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living With ADHD (Magination Press), by Jeanne KrauseIn this book for children in kindergarten through third grade, a boy named Cory explains what ADHD feels like. He discusses how his parents and doctor help him deal with his disruptive behavior and other ADHD symptoms.

ADHD Book #9: Get Ready for Jetty!: My Journal About ADHD and Me (Magination Press), by Jeanne KrauseFidgety fourth-grader Jetty loves being active and hates classroom restrictions. But thanks to her parents, doctor and teacher, she finds ways to succeed in school and get along with other girls.

ADHD Book #10: “Joey Pigza” series(Square Fish), by Jack GantosBeginning with Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, this series of four books is about a hyperactive sixth-grade boy who can’t seem to sit still, pay attention or follow rules.

ADHD Book #12: Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets (Mainstream Connections Publishing), by Barbara EshamIn this humorously illustrated book for ages 6 and up, David brainstorms the many ways he can handle his “wiggle fidgets.” Along the way, he helps his peers see how being “different” can also mean being more creative.

ADHD Book #13: My Mouth Is a Volcano! (National Center for Youth Issues), by Julia CookWith hilarious illustrations and an empathetic approach, this book aims to help ADHD children ages 4 to 8 understand why they interrupt others and blurt out whatever they’re thinking. It also gives them tools for listening and not “erupting” in speech.

ADHD Book #14: The Survival Guide for Kids With ADD or ADHD (Free Spirit Publishing), by John F. Taylor, Ph.D.Written for ADHD children in grades 3 to 5, this book uses humor and cartoon illustrations to provide information on dealing with symptoms.

ADHD Book #15: Understanding My Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AEG Literary Publishing Services), by Kara TamaniniWritten for parents and youngsters ages 4 to 7 to read together, this book explains ADHD in gentle, child-friendly language using the story of Tommy, a boy who doesn’t understand why he gets so upset when things don’t go his way.

ADHD Book #16: Why Can’t Jimmy Sit Still?: Helping Children Understand ADHD (New Horizon Press), by Sandra L. Tunis, Ph.D.In this rhyming story about a fidgety child named Jimmy, kids with ADHD are reassured that their “racing motors” aren’t their fault – and that even Jimmy can start making wiser choices with the help of his mom and doctor. Recommended for ages 4-8.

How Much Do You Know About Child ADHD?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a little more than 9% of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Boys face a higher risk than girls, being diagnosed more than 2 to 1. Take this quiz to test how much you know about ADHD.

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